Centre for Desert and Ocean ( Regd Trust )

Photosynthesis is the answer to world problems ''Grow more Native trees''

Bird Focused Nature Tourism in Kutch district of Gujarat State in India.

Abstract

Ornithology of Kutch is important due to its Geographical Location. The district of Kutch falls on the migration route of birds. The vast stretches of Rann, flooded portions and Bet area (20,600 sq. kms), Banni Grasslands (3847 sq. kms), Coast Line (352 kms) long, tropical thorn forest, Coastal Sand Dunes, all diverse habitat serve as staging, feeding, roosting grounds of these birds. The resident birdlife of Kutch shows strong similarities with the birds of Sindh, Kathiawar and Western Rajasthan. The Great Rann seems to function as an efficient barrier to local migration.

A 375 species of birds are listed from Kutch. Many of these species are first time records of stray birds, vagrants. Grey Hypocolius Hypocolius ampelinus is a regular wintering species in Fulay tooth brush tree forest and in some pockets of Banni. White-naped Tit Parus nuchalis a vulnerable and endemic species survives in tropical thorn forest of Kutch, 3 species of Bustards are seen in Kutch Indian Bustard being resident and critically endangered.

Passage Migrants 8 species passes through Kutch peninsula from August till October. Common Crane Grus grus major wintering ground lies in the vast tracts of Banni, Coastal Kutch, Khadir Island and on the fringes of the Rann of Kutch.

Nature tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the global tourism industry. Bird Focused Nature tourism can be harnessed as a positive force for biodiversity conservation that brings benefits to visitors and hosts alike.

Centre for Desert and Ocean (CEDO) a Registered Trust for Wildlife Conservation and Bird Tourism is working since 2005 in the field of Bird focused Nature Tourism in Kutch. So far Birders from 50 nations of the world have visited Kutch with CEDO and Domestic Birders and Bird Photographers from all parts of India have visited Kutch and contributed to better understanding of the Birdlife and Nature of the area. A large number of Trip Reports are available online. Few Links are listed here.

To promote the best practices to reduce the negative social and environmental impact of bird tourism.

To promote Birds as flagship for biodiversity conservation.

Philosophy of Bird Tourism

Nature tourism is widely promoted as one of the solutions to the pressures that Natural Ecosystem faces as a result of development process. If it is not carefully regulated and managed, however, Nature Tourism can place pressure on wildlife and places that visitors come to see, for example disturbances, pollution etc. It can also have negative, social, cultural and economic impact on local communities.

The philosophy of bird tourism is that the Bird Focused Nature Tourism should be developed in such a way that, it should not adversely affect birds and their habitats, but rather contributes to biodiversity conservation, delivers benefits to host communities and provides rewarding and enriching experience to visitors.

A strong photographic database is made available over the Internet by us for the visitors to study and do proper home-work prior to visiting for Birding in Kutch.

At CEDO we follow

Put Bird First ( Meaning : To reduce/minimize any disturbances to birds or their habitats. Besides using spotting scopes to see a bird from safe distance. )

Pressure of showing and seeing a species

Avoid trampling habitat.

Respect the breeding species, avoid use of lures and playing tapes repeatedly.

PEOPLE

Involve local people in planning and delivering tourism

Train local drivers and guides.

Respect local customs and rights.

Enhance the quality of the visitor’s experience.

Contribute to the conservation of sites visited

We at CEDO do this by providing the safe drinking water to village schools (So far 54 RO-plants have been installed in different Village’s Schools.)

Involving the locals and schools in native tree plantation and taking the students and teachers on Nature Education trips costing them just the time.

Note :- Monetary supports comes from the CEDO-Trust, Donors and Research Grants.

Nature Education – Birdwatching for students

Convert the Un-converted.

Build constituencies for Nature Education

Birdwatching is a healthy and rewarding pastime enjoyed by rapidly growing community of people around the world.

Birdwatching can act as a vehicle for attracting people to visit natural areas and stimulating a commitment to nature conservation.

We organize Nature Education and Birding camps for local students and teachers ( About 750-1000 students and 50-70 teachers/year are taken on birding trips by us in Kutch.)

With the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), we have organized 6 major Birdwatching Camps of 5 days each so far. All camps were successful and the account of which was published by members in “BNHS publication HORNBILL” authored by Jyoti Palekar, besides many blogs were also written by members online.

Birds of Special Interest in Kutch :

Kutch district is rich in birdlife. Out of 375 species listed, most of the birders coming to the region come with a hope to see following specialties

Grey Hypocolius – Seen reliably in Fulay tooth brush Salvadora persica jungle. Only place in India to see this single genera (monotypic) member wax-wing family.

Indian Bustard Critically endangered species – In Naliya grasslands

White-naped Tit – An endemic and vulnerable species seen in the tropical thorn forest of Kutch.

Sykes’s Nightjar – A nocturnal regional specialty. Found nesting first time in Banni by author in 2009.

Kutch district and surrounding areas are rich in mammalian fauna and this is evident by the richness of fauna. Checklist :- Caracal, Desert Cat, Desert Fox, Asiatic Wild Ass, Small Indian Civet, 2 species of Mongoose, Ratel, Pangolin, Chinkara, Wild Boar, 2 species of Hedge Hogs, Crested Porcupines, Wolf, Hyena, Jungle Cat, Indian Fox, Nilgai, Golden Bush Rat, Desert Jird, Indian Gerbil, Kutch Rock Rat, Indian Field Mice, and many species of Insectivorous bats and 2 species of Fruit bat.

John Hall and Richard Web two world renowned mammal-watchers visited Kutch and talk high about the mammalian diversity of the area. To know more visit the following link.

Promote home-stay in Kutch mainland and Otaq stay in Banni – to involve local responsible people in Bird Focused Nature Tourism.

Otaq stay : In Banni guest rooms of the locals are generally away from their dwellings, such places are called Otaq. In villages like Tal, Layari, Vedhar, Vazira-vandh and others, such places can be developed and locals after training by Forest Department and NGO can operate this system.

Home stay in Kutch mainland and Coastal belt eg. Mandvi, Lakhpat, Abdasa, Khadir, Bela areas can help the people and visitor’s mutual benefit and better understanding the birds, habitat and people.